Record turnout for Time Out for TechArkansas Tech University welcomed the largest high school senior turnout in the 16-year history of its Time Out for Tech preview event on Thursday. There were 1,683 high school seniors on hand for the opening session at Tucker Coliseum. Including parents and families, approximately 3,200 individuals attended Time Out for Tech 2015. The opening session was followed by academic break-out sessions, campus tours, lunch at the various dining option...

Blevins, Tidwell earn Life Saving AwardDARDANELLE — Police Chief Montie Sims honored two Dardanelle police officers during the Dardanelle City Council meeting Monday. Officers Brian Blevins and Jamey Tidwell were awarded the Life Saving Award after they prevented a suicidal man from harming himself or others during a confrontation in November. "Sometimes what they [officers] are required to do faces many dangers, and they have to put their life on the line or be endangered," Sims s...

Ground breaking medicineMilestone Construction Company of Springdale has been working on the building of MedExpress Urgent Care, which is scheduled to be complete by May 1. The full-service, walk-in clinic at 511 West Main St. in Russellville will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Russellville Police seek theft suspectsThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) is seeking the public’s help in identifying three men suspected of committing felony theft with an estimated value of $20,000. Officers were only able to obtain photos and videos of two of three suspects, which are pictured here. The suspects are believed to be driving a newer model blue Chevrolet Impala. Anyone with any information is asked to call the RPD at 968-3232 or the Silent Tip Line at 967-2221.

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 16 in Circuit Court. • James Darter, 43, second-degree sexual assault — $20,000. Darter was arrested this week on a warrant stemming from a complaint last year. On March 29, 2014, a mother reported to officers that her then-10-year-ol...

News Briefs (Feb. 5, 2015)Pope Election Commission meeting The meeting of the Pope County Election Commissioners originally scheduled for Wednesday has been re-scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday. The meeting will be held at Pope County Election Headquarters, located at 1509 E. Main St., Suite 7 in Russellville. Red Barn open Friday for music The Red Barn will open at 7 p.m. on Friday for music. There will be no potluck. All singers and musicians are invited. RHS After Pro...

Sidewalk meeting packs City HallResidents, city officials and members of the Arkansas Tech University (ATU) community packed Russellville City Hall on Tuesday to discuss the proposed sidewalk along East O Street from North Greenwich Avenue to North Arkansas Avenue. City Engineer/Public Works Director Kurt Jones gave a brief presentation of the current design then addressed the public's comments and answered questions. Jones said the current design — an 8-foot multi-use aspha...

Severance plan, food service causes confusion at called meetingDiscussions about severance packages and outsourcing food services left many Russellville School District employees confused after a called Russellville Board of Education meeting Tuesday at the administration building. The board passed an employee severance resolution and agreement, as well as a request to advertise bids in the process of seeking alternative food service. Although the items were intended to be unrelated, both may affect some ...

Russellville school board approves one-time exit incentive for employeesThe Russellville Board of Education voted Tuesday to offer a one-time incentive to eligible teachers, administrators and classified staff as a way to cut more than $1.9 million from the Russellville School District’s budget over the next eight years. Certified employees who voluntarily retire or otherwise leave the district at the end of this school year and are eligible for the package will receive $40,000 plus pay for accrued sick leave paid...

Commissioner Daniels honored at council meetingDARDANELLE — Mayor Carolyn McGee honored outgoing planning commissioner Cornelia Daniels during the Dardanelle City Council meeting Monday at City Hall. McGee said she and the city were grateful for the 20 years of dedicated service Daniels committed to the Dardanelle Planning Commission. "This young lady has made some hard decisions through those 20 years," McGee said. "She's done a great job of helping out her fellow members." Police Chief M...

City unveils new websiteAfter undergoing a seven-month redesign, the city unveiled its new interactive website — www.rsvlar.org — on Friday. CivicPlus, a government website provider, completed the redesign process for the city. The website includes online forms, facility reservations, online job applications and a "notify me" application along with a "cleaner, easier layout to navigate," James Hodge, city webmaster, said in a news release. Hodge said residents and ci...

Sheriff's office adds to investigation divisionThe Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) added two members to its Criminal Investigation Division (CID) this week. Russell Hill was promoted from deputy to CID investigator and Jacob "Dain" Yarbrough was hired to be lieutenant supervisor of CID. Hill has been in law enforcement for five years. He started his career at the Russellville Police Department (RPD) before he joined the PCSO in July 2012. "He will be a great asset to the investigation ...

News Briefs (Feb. 4, 2015)American Legion Jamboree Thursday The American Legion Jamboree will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion Hut in Russellville. The band Classic Country will be featured and includes Joe Fougerousse, Freddie Davis, Billy Tanner, Gary Lee, Robert Simpson and Glen Heaton. RHS After Prom meeting Sunday The Russellville High School After Prom Committee will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the RHS Commons. Yoga for Kids at the library Monday T...

Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center superior technology enhances quality careSaint Mary’s Regional Medical Center is a full-service acute care, regional referral center for the River Valley region and beyond. Founded in 1926, it has been the area’s health care leader for nearly 90 years. Saint Mary’s is accredited by the Joint Commission and owned by Capella Healthcare, Inc. The hospital is licensed as a 170-bed acute care facility. Saint Mary’s provides patients with some of the most advanced technology and medical se...

Saint Mary’s Regional Health System expands accessCommitted to meeting the growing medical needs of the River Valley well into the future, Saint Mary’s Regional Health System (SMRHS) has aggressively recruited seventeen family medicine and specialty physicians in the past three years. This brings the total number of active physicians on the medical staff to more than 100. In addition, physician assistants and nurse practitioners have joined the hospital’s network of clinics and hospital emerg...

A Conversation Piece offers one of a kind, local handcrafted itemsOpen for less than one year, A Conversation Piece offers all handcrafted items by local artisans. Established by Buster Smith at 312 W. 2nd St., local artisans display their work at the small business. Advantages of shopping at A Conversation Piece is that local, small businesses and local artisans are all supported. All money spent here stays here, the business ensured. Pottery was a hobby of Smith’s, and with no where to sell his material, h...

Fire destroys downtown Clarksville buildingsCLARKSVILLE — An early morning fire in downtown Clarksville caused the destruction of two buildings Monday. According to Clarksville Fire Department Chief Clark Gray, the department responded to a fire at 5:40 a.m. Monday at La Herradura, a clothing and accessory store located next to Arkansas Cycle Works near the Spadra Creek Main Street bridge. Gray said the fire began in the clothing store and spread to an abandoned building to its west but...